Thursday, January 24, 2013

Medicaid
is a means-tested entitlement program that finances the delivery of primary and
acute medical services as well as long-term services and supports (LTSS).
Medicaid is jointly financed by both the federal government and the
states. The federal government’s share for most Medicaid expenditures is
called the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP), and under the FMAP, the
federal government pays a larger portion of Medicaid costs in states with lower
per capita incomes relative to the national average (and vice versa for
states with higher per capita incomes).

Federal Medicaid funding to states is open-ended, and in a typical year, the
federal government funds 57% of the total cost for Medicaid. In FY2012,
federal Medicaid expenditures accounted for almost 8% of all federal
spending. As a result, controlling federal Medicaid spending has been a
focus of deficit reduction and budget proposals.

The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform’s final report
included savings from Medicaid totaling $58 billion over 10 years. The
provisions with Medicaid savings included eliminating states’ ability to
fund Medicaid through provider taxes and covering dual-eligibles under
managed care arrangements.

The Bipartisan Policy Center’s Debt Reduction Task Force estimated its
proposals would reduce federal Medicaid expenditures by about $25 billion
over 10 years. The task force proposed removing barriers for states to use
managed care to cover dual eligibles and limiting the growth in Medicaid
expenditures by changing the structure of Medicaid financing.

The President’s FY2013 budget included a number of Medicaid provisions
estimated by the Administration to reduce federal Medicaid expenditures by
$56 billion over the next 10 years. The Medicaid provisions in the
President’s budget included limiting states’ ability to utilize provider
taxes, implementing a blended FMAP rate, limiting Medicaid reimbursement of
durable medical equipment, and “rebasing” Medicaid disproportionate share
hospital (DSH) payments.

The House FY2013 Budget Resolution (H.Con.Res. 112), based on Representative
Ryan’s Path to Prosperity: A Blueprint for American Renewal document,
proposed restructuring the Medicaid program from an individual entitlement
to a block grant and repealing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act (ACA). Together these provisions are estimated to reduce federal Medicaid expenditures
by $1.4 trillion from FY2013 to FY2022.

In November 2012, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) published the document Choices
for Deficit Reform, which provides the following options to reduce
federal Medicaid expenditures: repealing the ACA Medicaid expansion,
converting the federal share of LTSS into a block grant, and reducing the
FMAP floor. Together, CBO estimated these options would reduce federal Medicaid
expenditures by $156 billion in FY2020.

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